Dr. Seuss writes Bartholomew and the Oobleck. He uses his whimsical illustrations and rhyming verse in the picture book. The kids' story starts with an angry King Derwin. Why is he angry? The sky only gives snow, fog, sunshine, or other variations. He is the King and he demands something new.

Bartholomew is King Derwin’s page who hears King Derwin’s rants. The following morning, the King gets his wish. Green blobs fall from the sky. King Derwin is delighted, but in true Dr. Seuss fashion, the King’s delight turns to horror.

The green blobs or the oobleck become larger and fall faster. They are soon covering everything and oozing everywhere. The Kingdom of Didd is frantic. The hilarity of Bartholomew and the Oobleck comes from turning the pages to read and see how Bartholomew and the Royal staff try to contain the oobleck. As ever more oobleck falls, Dr. Seuss pace increases.

“Beware what you wish for” is the moral of Bartholomew and the Oobleck. Children like King Derwin wish for change. Often, when the wish becomes true, they will do anything to return to the original state. At the book’s end, the king is quite happy with the snow, fog, sunshine and rain. They may be mundane, but he and his Kingdom of Didd are at peace. Also, King Derwin admits his fault in the near disaster.

Bartholomew and the Oobleck by Dr. Seuss is a good picture book for five-years-old and older children. The fifty-six page book is too long for younger children unless read in sections. Their attention span is short. The scenes of the Royal staff racing to stop the oobleck’s flow will delight readers. Dr. Seuss classic story in rhyme is great to read or hear.



Bartholomew and King Derwin appear in Dr. Seuss second book, The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins.


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